Colorado § 38-51-104 - Monumentation of land surveys.

§ 38-51-104. Monumentation of land surveys.

(1) (a) The corners of lots, tracts, other parcels of land, aliquot corners not described in subsection (4) of this section, and any line points or reference points which are set to perpetuate the location of any land boundary or easement shall, when established on the ground by a land survey, be marked by reasonably permanent markers solidly embedded in the ground.

(b) A durable cap bearing the license number of the professional land surveyor responsible for the establishment of the monument shall be affixed securely to the top of each such monument embedded pursuant to this subsection (1).

(2) If the points designated in subsection (1) of this section fall on solid bedrock, concrete, stone curbs, gutters, or walks, a durable metal disk or cap shall be securely anchored in the rock or concrete and stamped with the license number of the professional land surveyor responsible for the establishment of the monument or marker.

(3) (a) If the monuments or markers required by subsection (1) of this section cannot practicably be set because of steep terrain, water, marsh, or existing structures; or if they would be lost as a result of proposed street, road, or other construction; or they cannot be safely set due to their position on a traveled road within a federal, state, or other public right-of-way, one or more reference monuments shall be set.

(b) (I) The letters "RM" or "WC" and the surveyor's license number shall be affixed to the monument.

(II) For purposes of this paragraph (b), "RM" means reference monument and "WC" means witness corner.

(c) Reference monuments shall be set as close as practicable to the true corner and shall meet the same physical standards required to set the true corner.

(d) If only one reference monument is used, such reference monument shall be set on the actual boundary line or a prolongation thereof, otherwise at least two reference monuments shall be set.

(4) For any monument required by this section that marks the location of a section corner, quarter section corner, or sixteenth section corner, such monument shall meet the physical standards specified by rule and regulation promulgated by the board pursuant to section 24-4-103, C.R.S.

(5) (a) The top of the monument for any corner required by this section which is within the traffic area of a publicly named dedicated or deeded street, road, or highway shall be placed one-half foot below the roadway surface.

(b) If the roadway surface is pavement two inches thick or greater, the monument shall include a monument box the top of which shall be set flush with the surface of the pavement.

(6) No marker required by this section shall bear the license number of more than one professional land surveyor but may bear the name of an individual surveyor or surveying firm in addition to the required license number.

Source: L. 94: Entire article R&RE, p. 1516, § 47, effective July 1. L. 2006: (5) amended, p. 743, § 13, effective July 1. L. 2013: (1)(b), (2), (3)(b)(I), and (6) amended, (SB 13-161), ch. 356, p. 2093, § 36, effective July 1. L. 2026: (3)(a) amended, (SB 26-025), ch. 57, p. 242, § 1, effective August 12.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 38-51-101, as it existed prior to 1994.

Cross references: For provisions regarding the revocation of a land surveyor's registration, see part 3 of article 120 of title 12.